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As a cat-adoption counselor for a shelter, I often get potential adopters who see a kitty’s blue eyes and ask — especially if the cat is white, too — if she is deaf. Assuming that all cats with blue eyes, which are not nearly as prevalent as yellowish or green eyes in cats, are deaf is a common misconception, says feline geneticist Dr. Leslie A. Lyons. She is a Gilbreath-McLorn Endowed Professor of Comparative Medicine with the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine, in the Department of Vet Medicine and Surgery.

1. Let’s Talk About Cat Breeds With Blue Eyes

If you want a blue-eyed, purebred cat, look for breeds with seal-point coloring, which is genetically tied to blue eyes. Cat breeds with blue eyes include the Siamese, Balinese, Himalayan, Persian, Birman and Javanese. Ragdolls are known for sparkling blue eyes, but not all Ragdolls have this color. There is also the very rare Ojos Azules breed, which can produce cats with dark coats and blue eyes. The blue eyes in these breeds are not connected with deafness, Dr. Lyons says.

2. What About White Cats With Blue Eyes? What Percentage of White Cats With Blue Eyes Are Deaf?

It is a different story when it comes to white cats with blue eyes — about 60 percent of white-dominant kitties — who got their coloring from mutations in a gene called KIT. In these cats, the blue eyes result from a cellular issue: These irises have fewer melanocytes, which are cells that make pigment. These same cells create skin pigment and play a role in inner-ear functioning. Therefore, cats with fewer melanocytes — white cats with blue eyes — may not have enough of the cells for their hearing to function properly, Dr. Lyons says. White cats have a genetic makeup similar to albino humans, who lack pigment; this gives them some vulnerabilities, like sensitivity to UV light.

An estimated 40 percent of white cats with blue eyes are deaf, which is high. Still, look at it this way: If 40 percent of these cats are deaf, it means the majority (60 percent) can hear.

Some cats have mixed eye colors, like one blue eye and one green eye. In that case, Dr. Lyons says a hearing impairment may happen in just one ear, particularly on the side of the face with the blue eye.

3. If Your Kitten Has Blue Eyes, They Might Not Stay That Color

Like some human babies, all kittens are born with blue eyes that can change color later on. The hue begins to change to the kitten’s true eye color at around 6 or 7 weeks of age. The iris’ melanocytes — pigment that gives the cat’s eye its adult coloration — develops once the eye is sufficiently mature.

4. How Can You Tell If a Cat With Blue Eyes is Deaf?

If you want to know if a cat with blue eyes is deaf, stand back several feet behind her and clap or make another loud noise. If your cat reacts and looks toward you, she probably isn’t deaf, at least in both ears. Cats feel non-auditory vibrations very well though, so stand on the other side of the room to allow enough space, Dr. Lyons says.

If you still can’t tell if a white cat with blue eyes is deaf (or if you’re curious about any cat’s hearing issues), take her to your vet for more definitive testing.

15 comments on “4 Things to Know About Cats With Blue Eyes”

Good article, but you may want to change the part where it says “ALL human babies are born with blue eyes.” Unless you want people questioning if you are calling P.O.C not human, you might want to change that part to “Caucasian babies.” I’m sure you didn’t do that on purpose. I’m just giving you a heads up. ????

If she can see, she already understands. She can see her litterbox and food and water dishes, as well as where her bed is located. That’s pretty much all she would have to understand. If she is deaf or has limited hearing, she feels vibrations that tells her when someone is approaching. My cat is both blind and deaf and she finds everything just fine. The key to it of course is leaving things where they belong and keeping the rest of the floor clear so she doesn’t trip. She’s always been deaf and seems used to it.

That’s so sad well I just got 2 white cats with blue eyes it’s not Himalayan or Siamese but the tail is light neutral tan and their ears too also their pointy do you know by any chance what breed can they be…?

I had a white blue eyed cat once, we took her everywhere we could get away with, she loved going places. One day we were at a swap meet and someone asked if she was deaf, then explained this. We tested her later and sure enough she was. Maybe explaining why she liked going places that most cats would be terrified to be. She couldn’t hear all the scary noises. So just seeing all the activity was great fun. May have led to her death though. My ex let her outside and a coyote got her right off. I was devastated and so angry, I never forgave him. She was so special.